Stove tile

Roman milieu C. 1490–1510

Quadrangular tile designed for a stove, featuring stanniferous enamel coating and adorned with a relief depiction of the Crucifixion.

Quadrangular tile designed for a stove, featuring stanniferous enamel coating and adorned with a relief depiction of the Crucifixion.

Details of work

Denomination: Stove tile Milieu Roman milieu Object date: C. 1490–1510 Material: Majolica Dimensions: height 6.4 cm; width 17.5 cm

Typology: Pottery Acquisition: 1935 Place: Palazzo Venezia Main inventory number: 9356 Other numbers: OR 17

Catalog entry

The National Museum of Palazzo Venezia has two tiles (inv. 962 TR 44; inv. 961 TR 43), along with four stove tiles from the demolition of the mezzanine vaults of Innocent III's tower in the Vatican, dated to the late fifteenth century. Additional examples were discovered in the Crypta Balbi exedra. The oldest record of stove use is by Andrea Gatari, citing Francesco da Carrara the Elder (1325–1393) who visited Rome in winter 1368 and had two custom chimney caps made at the hotel All’insegna della Luna. Also noted is Clement VII’s “stufetta” or “bagno” (1523–1534) at Castel Sant’Angelo.
This work has never before been displayed.

Luca Pesante